Pool ball spotting frame



May 10, 1949. R. A. JONES. 9 2- POOL BALL SPOTTING FRAME Filed March 12, 1948 INVENTOR RUSSELL H. hm/v55 A TTOR/V E YS racking pool balls.

Patented May 10, 1949 "U NIT ED S TATES *QFiFliCE -2,4.69,6-52 POOL BALL 'SPOTTINGTBKME Russell A.--Jones, Akron, Ohio "Application March 12, 1948;'seria1No; 14:534

i 2 Claims.

"The-present invention relates to-a frame for 'This device as known an'd used has comprised=a closed band of generally triangular shape with sides of equal length and having a substantially rectangular cross-section,

the innenand outerwallsbeing flat andtparallel to each other and the top and bottom edges being either flat or slightly rounded.

The conventional frames of this general description have been inadequate in that it has been difficult to remove the frame afterzracking without disturbing the arrangement of the balls. The operator would, of necessity, perform :the lifting operation by placing his thumbs n the top edge and obtain a frictional grip with his fingers on the side faces. This resulted in a delicate balance of forces which often resulted in a faulty withdrawal.

According to the present invention, the frame is provided with an external bead whereby to provide a purchase affording a direct upward lift, thus obviating the disadvantage mentioned. Preferably this bead is located centrally of the frame face so that it may be employed with either edge up with equal facility.

According to modern trends, it is desirable to fabricate these frames of plastic, and the bead of this invention therefore yields a further desirable function in that it serves to lend strength and bending resistance to the walls. Furthermore, the frame and bead lend themselves readily to molding.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a frame for racking pool balls which is readily adapted to accurate lifting, which has improved strength and rigidity and which is easy of manufacture.

To these and other ends which will become manifest hereinafter, the invention consists of certain embodiments, preferred forms of which are described in the accompanying specification taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the improved frame showing a playing ball in dotted lines,

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of one side thereof,

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Fig. 3 showing modifications of cross-section.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a frame of three equal sides having parallel inner and outer walls. The frame is open above and below and is designed to accommodate playing balls ll, usually fifteen in number, to group the same in contacting relationship in a generally triangular configuration ii framesyas' knewn 'will meantime-acumen: portions 4'2 Ia e apices to provide' outer contact tr t-hammer balls with the frame. v

medially bf theou ter wall at *theframegq provid'e a beald' lii, whichgms shown; preferablyihas parallel upperand lower TLSldBS El-4, W5 and rounded outer edges l6, althoughcertainidepartures maybe madefrom theiexact shape and proportions bf-the b'ead member;

The width .of the' bead l 3; thatifisgv its? dimen- "sion o'utwardo'f the-firearm may vary withm :limiitsg the pninctpal consideration dieing? than its edgeazbe :"n'otuso far remov'edinthatazthe illilSl-II will lose the necessary sense of geometric alignment for which the fingers should be as close to the center of the triangle as possible. In fact it is desirable that the fingers of the user be able to contact the sides of the frame while engaging underneath the bead in order to retain the familiar sense of feel and that this be done without unduly changing the usual orientation of the hand. As shown, the bead has a width of the order of magnitude of the conventional thickness of the frame [0, but this relation is not controlling, and in fact, if the frame thickness were varied, the bead, from the standpoint of its strengthening function, could vary inversely therewith while remaining within the useful limits of the lifting and aligning functions described.

The bead need not extend entirely around the periphery of the rack from the standpoint of the lifting and aligning functions, but may be included on the sides only in the region where the fingers of the user will generally occur. In view of the reversibility of the frame, the bead should be symmetrical about the center of length of each side, and having in mind the variation in modes of grasping by different users should, in general have its outer edge generally parallel to the frame wall. While conspiring to the useful employment of the device, each and every consideration mentioned continues to define an article qualified by ease of manufacture.

I am aware that it has been proposed to provide a circular flange on a pool ball frame, but this expedient utterly fails of utility in that the hands of the user are necessarily so far from the center of the frame that the sense of positioning is lost, and to this detriment confusion is added by the conflicting geometric designs. Added to this, the device is unwieldy and unduly spacious and the web member is structurally weak and liable to breakage.

In Figs. 4 and 5 are illustrated embodiments which lead to improved and easier racking. As shown in Fig. 4, the inner walls slope as at l1, l8, to meet a band 19 parallel to the outer face of the frame I 0, which band may be as narrow as desired, including zero dimension. This configuration provides for readier disconnection of the frame from ball contact and decreases the likelihood of accidental re-engagement as the frame is raised or tilted.

In Fig. is shown a form in which the ball clearance is accomplished as in Fig. 4 by provision of an inner bead 20 which preferably is similar to the outer bead l3 and which further contributes to the strengthening of the wall While equalizing all stresses.

It will be noted in Figs. 4 and 5 that the improvements shown still retain the virtue of molding ease by their symmetrical arrangement.

Frames constructed after the manner of Figs. 4 and 5 will, of course, have such over-all dimensions that the inner portion I9 and the inner part of bead 20 will correspond to the inner wall of frame H1 in order to accommodate the proper size ball.

In the practice of the invention, modification may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A one-piece frame of synthetic plastic for racking pool balls, comprising a wall member of generally triangular configuration, and an integral bead of uniform cross-section outwardly of said wall member, completely surrounding, the same and located centrally of the width thereof,

said bead being of a general order of width outwardly of the wall member to afford simultaneous contact with the wall member and the outer part of the bead by the finger ends of a user, whereby the wall member may be grasped simultaneously above and below the bead by a pair of fingers on each hand of the user.

2. A one-piece frame of synthetic plastic for racking pool balls, comprising a wall member of generally triangular configuration, and an integral bead of uniform cross-section outwardly of said wall member, extending over equal and substantial portions of the respective sides thereof to an extent whereby to be engageable by the fingers and the thumb, respectively, of one hand of a user on adjoining sides of the frame, and located centrally of the width of the said sides, said bead having a width outwardly of the wall member substantially the same as the thickness of the wall member, whereby the wall member may be grasped simultaneously above and below the bead by a pair of fingers on each hand of the user.

RUSSELL A. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 464,745 Sweet Dec. 8, 1891 1,167,137 Treiber Jan. 4, 1916 2,060,495 Giragosian Nov. 10, 1936 

